Macclesfield 1st XI made the journey to Middlewich missing several key players but still hoping to maintain their spot in the promotion places.

First glance at the Haddon Field pitch, although dry, gave little indication of what would lie ahead and it turned out to be an excellent toss to win by skipper Tom Parfett who had no hesitation in batting first.

When the third ball of the innings went "through the top" and bounced like a tennis ball it set the tone for the day and batting was never going to be easy.

Ben Morrison (18) and Alex Griffiths (15) made a reasonable start and both made it into double figures before getting out and, at 40-2, Macclesfield were once again under pressure with spinners on from both ends and the ball turning considerably.

However, not for the first time, the

partnership of Tom Parfett and Khalid Sawas relieved some nerves as they both made batting look a lot easier and runs started to flow.

Sawas in particular looked in sublime form and was the only batsman all day who looked truly comfortable on the dry pitch.

Parfett was eventually caught at short leg off the bowling of Vish Bhadwa, who was getting some extreme turn from his off-spin bowling, for a well made 23 with the team score on 116.

Unfortunately this started a batting collapse for the visitors as Macclesfield were soon bowled out for 168 in 47.4 overs.

Bhadwa claimed excellent figures of 19 overs, five maidens, 6-63 and Phil Davies 18.4-2-60-3 as the Middlewich team were much the happier at the half-way mark.

Only Sawas really got to grips with the unpredictable turn and bounce as he made a superb 75 which enabled Macclesfield to post a defendable target.

In reply, Macclesfield took to the field knowing a big effort was needed from the bowlers and fielders.

Ian Tait – called up for his Cheshire Minor Counties debut against Dorset the following day – and Tom Barron bowled superbly and they extracted even more unpredictable bounce by hitting the deck hard with the new ball.

Middlewich were soon in big trouble at 25-3 with their key batsman and captain James Cornford back in the pavilion.

Dickinson (44) and Cole (27) then steadied the ship by playing aggressively, while riding their luck and, at the 25 over drinks break, had manoeuvred their team into a position to win the game.

The introduction into the attack of debutant Liam Markie to bowl his off-spin then changed the game in Macclesfield’s favour.

Bowling with great confidence and skill, he flighted the ball beautifully to deceive the batsmen in flight as he claimed four wickets for 28 runs to rip through the middle order.

Tom Barron returned towards the end to bowl with pace and hostility to claim his first five-wicket haul for the 1st XI at the cost of just 40 runs with his trademark in swinging yorkers proving far too good for the lower order batsmen as Middlewich were all out for 135 in 36.3 overs.

An excellent win for Macc, with star performances from Khalid Sawas, Tom Barron and Liam Markie, as the 23 points gained keeps them in second place in Division One, level on points with Widnes and eight behind leaders Grappenhall with two home games to come in succession against Christleton and then a local derby against Bollington the following week.

In a great weekend for the club, the 2nd XI won to maintain their title challenge as Dave Cowen scored a superb 70, and the young 3rd XI also had a good win with Stuart Parks claiming a seven-wicket haul.